Assembly structured to support and display a plurality of garments including lingerie

ABSTRACT

An assembly structured to support and display a plurality of lingerie and other type garments including a frame having an open configuration and including at least one but preferably a plurality of elongated support members. When in an operative position, the frame is connected in depending relation to any one of a plurality of support structures. A plurality of mounting members extend along a length of each of said support members preferably in a predetermined spaced relation to one another. A plurality of containers include a base and a handle assembly wherein the base is dimensioned and configured to contain at least one of the lingerie or other type garments therein. The structure of each of the plurality of containers is such as to facilitate viewing of the garments contained therein, wherein the containers may be formed of a washable, fluid permeable material so as to facilitate concurrent washing of the containers with the garments contained therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is directed to an assembly structured to concurrentlysupport and display a plurality of lingerie or other type garments whichare contained within a plurality of containers structured to facilitatethe viewing and/or washing of the garments while contained within thecontainers. The assembly includes a frame which, when in an operativeposition, depends from a supporting structure and is capable ofsupporting a plurality of containers having the lingerie garmentscontained therein thereby facilitating the viewing of the containedgarments and subsequent selection thereof for use.

2. Description of the Related Art

A common approach to the storage of various types of garments includethe use of chests having at least one but more commonly a plurality ofpull out drawers. When using such furniture to store various types ofgarments, the garments are arranged in a substantially stacked orotherwise appropriate array. As a result, when an individual searchesfor a specific garment, many if not all of the garments contained withinthe drawer are handled and possibly rearranged or repositioned relativeto one another. This in turn, frequently requires a refolding and/orrepositioning of the stored garments after the search has beencompleted.

An attempt to overcome disadvantages and problems of the type set forthabove, it is known to provide organizing structures or assemblies whichare specifically dimensioned and configured to store a plurality of aparticular type or category of article, devices and garments. Theseknown or conventional organizing assemblies typically include one ormore pockets of a preferred size and configuration fixedly attached tosome type of support base or sheet which may then be arranged ordisposed in an orientation which facilitates access to the storagepockets. Examples of such organizing assemblies include structures whichmay be specifically intended to store a plurality of jewelry items, inthat a majority of jewelry items such as earrings, rings, broaches,clips, watches, etc. are relatively small in size. Therefore, the smalldimensioning of a typical jewelry item of the type set forth above, mayresult in any type of conventional or known organizing assembly havingsmall pockets. Also, such pockets are typically made from a cloth likematerial which are permanently secured to a supporting base, as setforth above.

Larger items such as, but not limited to, shoes, toiletries, etc. mayalso be readily adaptable for storage in similar type organizingassemblies. One or more storage pockets structured to hold such largeror heavier items are considerably larger and as a result may requiresupport of such organizing assemblies from a more stable supportstructure. Yet another category of organizing assemblies are drapes,hoods, sleeves or like structures being removably secured to aconventional coat hanger. Such storage sleeves or like structures alsoinclude a plurality of pockets therein which are dimensioned to storespecific items.

While the organizing assemblies of the type described above, may be atleast minimally functional for their intended purpose, there is still aneed in this area for an assembly structured to store, support andeffectively display garments and in particular, lingerie type garmentsin order that such garments may be quickly and easily selected from alarger plurality of garments of the same type. Therefore, a proposedassembly of the type required to overcome well known and existingdisadvantages and problems of conventional organizing and storageassemblies should comprise a frame including various structuralcomponents associated therewith which may removably support a pluralityof containers. As such, the proposed containers may be dimensioned andconfigured to removably retain the stored garments on the interiorthereof. Further, structuring of the containers would allow for a clearviewing and efficient recognition of the stored garments from anexterior of the container without requiring an opening or otherwisemanipulation of the containers. Yet additional features of such aproposed assembly would be the provision of the various containers beingmade from a washable material which is liquid permeable. Accordingly,any washing or cleaning liquid would pass into the interior of thecontainer where the stored garments are retained. This structuralfeature would allow for a concurrent washing, cleaning, drying of boththe container and the stored garments at the same time without requiringa removal of the garments from the interior of the container. Suchwashing, cleaning, drying, etc. could be accomplished by conventionalwashing and drying machines, which are well known and in common use.

Further, such an assembly should be of a durable, light weightconstruction so as to allow it to be disposed in an operative positionin a variety of convenient locations. In addition, the plurality ofcontainers associated with the proposed assembly should be such as to bemade of a durable material having the above noted characteristics ofwashability and viewability, while being sufficiently long lasting to beoperative over an extended period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an assembly structured to supportand display a plurality of garments, wherein the garments are removablycontained within a plurality of containers. The assembly includes aframe having at least one but preferably a plurality of elongatedsupport members. The support members are disposed in interconnectingrelation with and between oppositely disposed peripheral side portionsof the frame. In at least one embodiment, the outermost ones of theplurality of support members disposed on the frame are positioned todefine an upper and lower peripheral portion of the frame, such as whenthe frame is disposed in an operative position.

Such an operative position is accomplished by the presence of a framesupport connected to an upper portion or upper peripheral portion of theframe and being structured to mount, connect or support the frame independing relation to any one of a plurality of different type supportstructures. By way of example only, the frame support may be in the formof a hook-type structure which may be dimensioned and configured tosupport the frame in depending relation. When so supported, theoperative position it is defined by a substantially vertical orientationof the peripheral side portions and a vertical spacing between adjacentones of the plurality of support members.

Additional structural features of the frame include the provision of aplurality of mounting members, each of which may be in the form of anoutwardly projecting finger or a curved hook type structure. In eitherof these structural modifications, the plurality of mounting members aredisposed along the length of each of the one or more of the supportmembers in predetermined spaced relation to one another. The spacedrelation between the plurality of mounting members secured to a commonone of the plurality of support members is such as to facilitate adepending support of at least some of the plurality of containers whensupported on one or more of the mounting members. As set forth ingreater detail hereinafter, the predetermined spacing between theplurality of mounting members on a common one of the plurality ofsupport members may be such as to dispose the plurality of supportmembers in equally spaced relation to one another. Yet anotherembodiment of the assembly of the present invention includes theplurality of mounting members being disposed in spaced apart pairs,wherein the distance between adjacent pairs of mounting members may begreater than the distance between the mounting members of any one pair.

In either embodiment of the predetermined spacing, as set forth above,the removable mounting or connection of the plurality of containers toany one of the plurality of support members is facilitated due to thecooperative structuring and placement of the mounting members, thesupport members and the handle assembly associated with each of theplurality of containers.

More specifically, each or at least some of the plurality of containersinclude a base having an interior dimension configured to hold at leastone of the lingerie or other type garments therein. In addition, theaforementioned handle assembly is such as to include a plurality ofpreferably two handle segments having one end fixedly secured to thecontainers and the opposite end being free, at least in terms of thefree ends of the handle segments connected to the same base not beingsecured or connected to one another. This structuring of the handleassembly facilitates each handle segment being connected to a common oneof the plurality of mounting members. Alternatively, the spacing of themounting members on any one of the plurality of elongated supportmembers may be such as to facilitate each of the preferably two handlesegments being connected to a different one of the plurality of mountingmembers, such as each handle segment being connected to adjacentmounting members defining one of the aforementioned pairs of mountingmembers.

Accordingly, the frame may, at least initially, be structured to supportand display a specific, predetermined number of containers thereon withthe garments or garment sets disposed therein. However, due thestructural versatility of the of the handle assembly of each of thecontainers in cooperation with the mounting members, the number ofcontainers positionable on the support members may be significantlyincreased or even doubled. By way of example, when the handle segmentsof each container are each supported by a different mounting member andan additional number of containers need be added to the frame, thehandle segments of each handle assembly can be repositioned so as to besupported on a common mounting member as described above. This will“free up” an additional number of mounting members for use, wherein morecontainers may be added to the frame without interfering with others ofthe containers supported thereon.

Other structural features of at least some of the plurality ofcontainers include the entire container being formed of a washablematerial. As such, the container may be washed or cleaned using aconventional clothes washer and subsequently dried without causingdamage or disfiguration thereto. Therefore, the material from which atleast the base of at least some of the containers are formed comprises aliquid permeable material which allows the passage of the water or othercleaning fluid to pass into the interior of the base into contact withany garment contained therein. Therefore, at least some of the pluralityof containers facilitates the concurrent washing, cleaning, drying, etc.of the container as well as the lingerie or other type garment, whilesuch garments are contained within the interior of the base.

Also, at least some of the plurality of containers also have a structurewhich facilitates viewing of the interior of the base and thereforeobservation and determination of a particular garment(s) containedwithin the base including when the container and garments are supportedon the aforementioned frame. Accordingly, prior to any original washingof the container end or garment, an individual will be able to view theinterior of the base and observe which of a possible large number ofgarments owned by the individual are contained therein. The individualwill thereby be able to select the garments for use or wear withoutphysically handling and/or repositioning of the garments, such as whenthe garments are stored, most commonly in a stacked array within theinterior of a drawer or like conventional storage facility.

Moreover, based on the structural and operative features of the frame,as well as the plurality of containers, a plurality of garments orgarment sets may be disposed on the interior of different ones of thebases. The containers may thereafter be removably supported on any oneof the plurality of support members by removable positioning the handleassembly on one or more of the mounting members in the manner describedabove. As such, when the frame is in an operative position, thecontainers will depend from the support member to which they areconnected and be disposed in an orientation which facilitates viewing ofthe garments contained on the interior of the base. The plurality ofcontainers on a common or adjacent support member are disposed in anon-overlapping relation to one another so as to facilitate viewing anddetermination of which garments are contained within the base of each ofthe plurality of containers. As such, the assembly of the presentinvention is structured for specific, but not exclusive, support anddisplay of a plurality of lingerie garments wherein matching garmentssuch as a brassiere and panties set may be contained in the samecontainer which may be quickly and easily located by viewing of thevarious lingerie garment sets through the viewable portion of the base.However, it is emphasized that the containers of the present inventionare not intended for the exclusive use with lingerie garments. Incontrast, any type of garment which is appropriately sized forcontainment within the base of the plurality of containers may be storedfor support and display, in the manner described above.

Accordingly, the versatility of the support and display assembly of thepresent invention is further demonstrated by the ability to organize thevarious containers so that the garments contained therein may beinspected, identified and independently selected. As such the variousgarments and or garment sets may be easily and quickly selected by anindividual for packing for travel, independent storage, washing orcleaning, etc. while the garments or garment sets remain in therespective containers.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more clear when the drawings as well as thedetailed description are taken into consideration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of at least one embodiment of the structure ofone of a plurality of containers structured to removably containlingerie or other type garments on the interior thereof.

FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the plurality of containers.

FIG. 4 is a front view in partial cutaway demonstrating a supportedorientation of a container of the assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view in partial cutaway demonstrating a supportedorientation of a container of the assembly of the present inventionwhich differs from the embodiment of FIG. 4.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As represented in the accompanying Figures, the present invention isdirected to an assembly generally indicated as 10 for the support anddisplay of a plurality of garments such as, but not limited to, lingeriegarments. The assembly 10 comprises a frame, generally indicated as 12,having a substantially open configuration defined by at least one butmore preferably a plurality of spaced apart support members 14. Theaforementioned open construction of the frame 10 is further defined by aspacing 16 between adjacent ones of the plurality of support members 14.Accordingly, when disposed in an operative position, as represented inFIG. 1, the frame 12 includes two oppositely disposed peripheral sideportions 18 and 20 being substantially vertically oriented, wherein theplurality of support members 14 are disposed between and ininterconnecting relation with the spaced apart, oppositely disposed sideportions 18 and 20. Moreover, when in the operative position of FIG. 1,the plurality of mounting members are vertically spaced, as at 16.

The operative position is further defined by the plurality of supportmembers 14 being substantially horizontally disposed while beinginterconnected with and between the side peripheral portions 18 and 20.Further, in at least one embodiment of the frame 12, an upper and lowermost one of the plurality of support members as at 14′ and 14″ maydefine the upper and lower peripheral portions of the frame 12. Such anoperative position is easily and quickly obtained by the presence of aframe support member generally indicated as 22. The frame support 22 isstructured to be removably connected to or mounted on any one of avariety of different support structures such as a cloths rod, wallmounted structure or like support, etc. Therefore, the operativeposition of the frame 12 can be more specifically defined by the frame12 disposed in a substantially vertically depending, supported relationthereby disposing the side portions 18 and 20 in the aforementionedvertical orientation and the plurality of support members 14 and asubstantially horizontal, spaced apart relation to one another.

In addition to the above, the assembly 10 of the present inventioncomprises a plurality of containers generally indicated as 24 in FIG. 2.Each or at least some of a plurality of containers includes a base 26having an interior portion which is dimensioned and configured to holdat least one, but in certain applications at least two garments, such aslingerie type garments, represented in phantom lines in FIG. 3 as 28 and28′. Access to the garments 28, 28′ is facilitated through the provisionof an access opening as at 30 which may be selectively closed or coveredby the presence of a movable lid or flap type covering 32. It isemphasized that other types of structuring may be associated with theaccess opening 30 such as snap fasteners, hook and loop type fasteners,etc. in order to facilitate a selective opening or closing of the accessopening 40.

Further, each or at least some of the containers 24 are formed from awashable material which is further structured to be liquid permeable. Assuch, water and other washing or cleaning fluid may pass into theinterior of the base 34 into contact with the garments 28, 28′ containedtherein. Accordingly, the plurality of garments 28, 28′ and thecontainers 24 in which they are disposed may be concurrently washed,while the garments 28, 28′ remain within the respective container. Inaddition may include, but not be limited to, an open mesh materialgenerally represented as 50. In addition, the containers may also beformed of a material which allows viewing of the contents of thecontainer. Such a “viewable” material may also comprise, but not belimited to, the open mesh material 50.

In addition, each or at least some of the plurality of containers 24,includes a handle assembly 34 preferably comprising a plurality of twohandle segments 36. The handle segments 36 include one end 36′ fixedlyconnected to the base 26 and an opposite free end, as at 36″, A quickand easy removable connecting and support of the plurality of containers24 to any one of a plurality of support members 14 is therebyfacilitated. With primary reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, each of theplurality of support members 14 include a plurality of mounting members38 fixedly secured thereto and disposable in a predetermined spacedrelation to one another. Such predetermined spaced relation between theplurality of mounting members 38 facilitates the removable connectionand support of the plurality of containers 24 to a selected one of themounting members 14 and 14′.

With specific reference to FIG. 1, the predetermined spacing between themounting members affixed to support member 14′ is such that they arearranged in adjacent, spaced apart pairs. This paired spacing asdemonstrated by the array of mounting members 38′ in FIG. 1, is furtherdefined by the spacing of the portion of the mounting member, as at 42,between adjacent pairs of mounting members 38′, is greater than thespacing 43 between the two mounting members defining each pair ofmounting members 38. In contrast, the spacing between the plurality ofmounting members 38 on the next adjacent support member 14 issubstantially equal, along the entire or at least a majority of thelength of the corresponding support member 14.

With primary reference to FIG. 5, the handle segments 36 of each of thehandle assemblies 34 of each of the containers 24 are such that bothhandle segments 34 may be connected to a common one of the plurality ofsupport members 38 as generally indicated by the reference numeral 24′.However, the versatility of the handle assembly 34 is demonstrated inFIG. 4, such that each of the handle segments 36 may be connected to adifferent one of the plurality of mounting members and preferablyadjacent ones of the mounting members 38, especially, but notnecessarily, when the mounting members 38, are located in theaforementioned and described paired spacing. More specifically, thepaired spacing of the plurality of mounting members as connected tosupport member 14′ perhaps better facilitates the different handlesegments 34 being connected to adjacent ones of the mounting membersdefining a single pair 38′. In contrast, the equal spacing of theplurality of mounting members 38, as connected to support member 14 maybetter facilitate each of the handle segments 34 being connected tocommon one of the plurality of mounting members 38, as demonstrated at24′ in FIG. 4.

Therefore, the frame 12 may, at least initially, be structured tosupport and display a specific, predetermined number of containers 24thereon with the garments or garment sets 28, 28′ disposed therein.However, due the structural versatility of the of the handle assembly 34of each of the containers 24 in cooperation with the mounting members38, the number of containers 24 positionable on the support members 14may be significantly increased or even doubled. By way of example and asrepresented in FIG. 4, when the handle segments 36 of each container 24are each supported by a different mounting member 38 and an additionalnumber of containers need be added to the frame 12, the handle segments36 of each handle assembly 34 can be repositioned so as to be supportedon a common mounting member 38 as described above and represented inFIG. 5. This will “free up” an additional number of mounting members 38for support of the additional number of containers to the frame, withoutinterfering with others of the containers supported thereon.

Further with regard to the embodiment of FIG. 4, the vertical spacingbetween adjacent ones of the support members 14, 14′, 14″ is sufficientto dispose at least a majority of the length of each of the plurality ofcontainers connected to an upper one of the support members between theadjacent support members and in a non-overlapping relation to oneanother. Such freely, spaced apart, non-overlapping relation to theplurality of containers 24 when removably connected in supportedrelation to any one of the support members 14, 14′, 14″ thereby furtherenhances the ability of an individual to review the lingerie contents ofthe interior of the base 26 and select lingerie garment(s) containedtherein.

Moreover, based on the structural and operative features of the frame,as well as the plurality of containers, a plurality of garments orgarment sets may be disposed on the interior of different ones of thebases. The containers may thereafter be removably supported on any oneof the plurality of support members by removable positioning the handleassembly on one or more of the mounting members in the manner describedabove. As such, when the frame is in an operative position, thecontainers will depend from the support member to which they areconnected and be disposed in an orientation which facilitates viewing ofthe garments contained on the interior of the base. Moreover, theplurality of containers on either a common or adjacent support memberare disposed in a non-overlapping relation to one another so as tofacilitate viewing and determination of which garments are containedwithin the base of each of the plurality of containers. As such, theassembly of the present invention is structured for specific, but notexclusive, support and display of a plurality of lingerie garments,wherein matching garments such as a brassiere and panties set may becontained in the same container which may be quickly and easily locatedby viewing of the various lingerie garment sets through the viewableportion 50 of the base. However, it is emphasized that the containers ofthe present invention are not intended for the exclusive use withlingerie garments. In contrast, any type of garment which isappropriately sized for containment within the base of the plurality ofcontainers may be stored for support and display, in the mannerdescribed above.

Accordingly, the versatility of the support and display assembly 10 ofthe present invention is further demonstrated by the ability to organizethe various containers 24 so that the garments 28, 28′ contained thereinmay be inspected, identified and independently selected. As such thevarious garments and or garment 28 and 28′ sets may be easily andquickly selected by an individual for packing for travel, independentstorage, washing or cleaning, etc. while the garments or garment sets 28and 28′ remain in the respective containers 24.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Now that the invention has been described,

1. An assembly structured to support and display a plurality ofgarments, said assembly comprising: a frame including at least oneelongated support member disposed in interconnecting relation with andbetween oppositely disposed peripheral side portions of said frame, aplurality of mounting members disposed in spaced relation to one anotherand collectively extending along the length of said support member, aplurality of containers dimensioned and configured to contain at leastone of said plurality of garments, and each of said plurality ofcontainers structured to be removably connected to at least one of saidplurality of mounting members in supported, depending relation to saidsupport member.
 2. An assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprisinga frame support connected to said frame and disposed and structured toconnect said frame in a depending, supported position on a supportingstructure.
 3. An assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said depending,supported position is at least partially defined by said support memberdisposed in a substantially horizontal orientation.
 4. An assembly asrecited in claim 1 wherein at least some of said plurality of containersare formed of a washable, liquid permeable material structured tofacilitate concurrent washing of said containers and the garmentscontained therein.
 5. An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein at leastsome of said plurality of garments are structured to facilitate theviewing of the garments contained therein.
 6. An assembly as recited inclaim 1 wherein at least some of said plurality of garments arestructured to facilitate the viewing of the garments contained therein.7. An assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least the majority ofsaid containers comprise a base and a handle assembly connected to saidbase, said base including an interior portion dimensioned to removablycontain the at least one garment therein.
 8. An assembly as recited inclaim 7 wherein said handle assembly comprises a plurality of handlesegments structured to be concurrently and removably connected to acommon one of said plurality of said mounting members.
 9. An assembly asrecited in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of said handlesegments is structured to be concurrently and removably connected to adifferent one of said plurality of mounting members.
 10. An assembly asrecited in claim 9 wherein at least some of adjacent ones of saidplurality of mounting members are disposed a predetermined spaced apartdistance, said predetermined spaced apart distance being sufficient toconnect each of said plurality of handle segments to a different one ofsaid adjacent mounting members.
 11. An assembly as recited in claim 1wherein said plurality of said mounting members comprise a plurality ofpairs of mounting members, adjacent pairs of each of said plurality ofpairs of mounting members disposed a greater spaced distance apart thanthat of said mounting members defining each of said plurality of pairsof mounting members.
 12. An assembly as recited in claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of elongated support members disposed in spacedrelation to one another and in interconnecting relation with and betweensaid peripheral side portions of said frame, said peripheral sideportions disposed in a substantially vertical orientation when saidframe is in an operative position.
 13. An assembly as recited in claim12 wherein a spaced distance between adjacent support members issufficient to dispose at least a majority of each of said plurality ofcontainers there between when said containers are connected to anuppermost one of said adjacent support members and said frame is in saidoperative position.
 14. An assembly as recited in claim 12 wherein eachof said plurality of said support members comprises a plurality ofmounting members extending along the length thereof.
 15. An assembly asrecited in claim 12 wherein different ones of two of said plurality ofsupport members respectively define an upper peripheral portion and alower peripheral portion of said frame when said frame is in saidoperative position.
 16. An assembly structured to support and display aplurality of lingerie garments, said assembly comprising: a frame havingan open configuration and comprising a plurality of elongated supportmembers extending in interconnecting relation with and between oppositeperipheral side portions of said frame, said peripheral side portionsbeing substantially vertically oriented and said support membersdisposed in vertically spaced relation to one another when said frame isin an operative position, a plurality of mounting members extendingalong the length of each of said support members in predetermined spacedrelation to one another, a plurality of containers each dimensioned andconfigured to contain at least one of the lingerie garments therein,each of said containers including a base and a handle assembly, saidhandle assembly structured to removably connect a corresponding one ofsaid bases to any one of said plurality of mounting members, and saidplurality of containers cooperatively structured with said plurality ofsupport members and said plurality of mounting members to be removablysupported in depending relation from any one of said support members innon-overlapping relation to one another.
 17. An assembly as recited inclaim 16 wherein at least some of said plurality of containers areformed of a washable, liquid permeable material structured to facilitateconcurrent washing of said containers and the garments containedtherein.
 18. An assembly as recited in claim 17 wherein at least some ofsaid plurality of garments are structured to facilitate the viewing ofthe garments contained therein.
 19. An assembly as recited in claim 18wherein at least some of said containers are at least partially formedfrom an open mesh material.
 20. An assembly as recited in claim 16 saidhandle assembly of each of said plurality of containers comprises aplurality of handle segments, said handle segments disposed andstructured to be concurrently and removably connected to a common one ofsaid plurality of mounting members.
 21. An assembly as recited in claim18 wherein said predetermined spaced apart distance is sufficient toconnect each of said plurality of handle segments of a common containerto a different one of said adjacent mounting members.
 22. An assembly asrecited in claim 20 wherein said plurality of said mounting memberscomprise a plurality of pairs of mounting members, adjacent ones of saidpairs of mounting members disposed a greater spaced distance apart thanthat of said mounting members defining at least one of said plurality ofpairs of mounting members.
 23. An assembly as recited in claim 16wherein a spaced distance between adjacent support members is sufficientto support at least a majority of at least some of said plurality ofcontainers there between when said frame is in said operative position.